Radcliffe, who turns 39 next week, had a bone graft on her left foot in August. She had hoped to run the Olympic Marathon in London that month, but had to withdraw the week before the race because her left foot was too troublesome. Once she no longer needed crutches after surgery, she began a rigorous cross-training program. "I'm staying really positive and the goal is to be back running by Christmas and building up to racing next year," she told the BBC.

Radcliffe's original post-surgery plan apparently included running the London Marathon in April, as next year's race will mark the 10-year anniversary of when she set her world record of 2:15:25 there. "I would love to be in London 10 years on from setting the world record there, but I think that is going to be very close," she told the BBC.

Radcliffe's last marathon was Berlin in September 2011, where she ran 2:23:46 to place third in a strong field.